Apparatus for treating steel railroad-rails, &amp;c.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented May 30, 1911.

J. 0. RUSSELL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1910.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING STEEL RAILROAD RAILS, &c.

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Qui W w J. C. RUSSELL. APPARATUS FOR TREATING STEEL RAILROAD RAILS, 62:0. APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1910.

993,41 1 Patented May 30, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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JAMES C. RUSSELL, OF PITTSBURG, FENBTSE'L'JFANTA.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING STEEL RAILROAD-RAILS, Scot" Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May so, 1911.

Application filed May 31, 1910. Serial No. 564,211.

To all whom it may concerns Be it known that LJAMns C. RUssELL, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Treating Steel- Railroad- Rails, &c.; and I do hereby declare the. following to' be a full, clear, and exact descrip-i tion thereof.

My invention relates to apparatus for the treating of steel railroad rails and other like bars, and has special reference to soft steel or low carbon rails and bars.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple and eflicient apparatus for treating a soft or low carbon steel rail or bar, which will enable such rail or bar to have its head hardenedto such an extent desired for the pur ose it is to be used, While the web and ange or flange of the same 'will be maintained in its soft and tough condition to properly support such. head, and said head will be rendered in such a condition that it carbon rail in hardness.

To these ends my invention consists, generally stated, in the novel apparatus 'for treating steel railroad rails and bars, as

hereinafter more specifically set forth and described and the claims.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to construct and use my improved apparatus for treating steel railroad rails and bars, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my improved apparatus for treating steel rails and bars. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the same, partly broken away. Fig. -8 is an enlarged. crossparticul'ar-ly pointed out in section on the line 33 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a like section on the line 4 Fig. 2. Fig. 5 the line 55 Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a like view on the line 6-6 Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is another similar view on the line Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the front end of one of the troughs. Like symbols ofreference herein indicate like parts in each of. the figures of the drawmgs.

As illustrated in the drawings, my improved apparatus for treating steel rails and bars is shown at A, and preferably conwill be equal to the high l sists of three troughs l, 2 and 8, whicharc separate from each other and are provided with a bottom 5 within the same. This bottom 5 is set at an incline within the troughs 1, 2 and 3 and rests upon projections 4 on thesides 4' of said troughs, while an opening 6' is formed in such sides of said troughs, which are at the downward side of such inclined bottom therein, which opening leads from said troughs to drain trough 7 on that side of said troughs, vand its size is regulated or is closed by means of an adjustable trap-plate 9 mounted on such trough sides by the bolts 8. An overflow box 7 is formed at the front end of each of the drain troughs 7 and from the same leads a pipe 7 for draining any water collected in said troughs when desired. An opening 6 is formed in the rear end of the drain troughs 7, which is opened and closed by means of a gate 6 supported by bolts 6 on said ends and mounted in slots 6 in such gate to'adjust the height of said gate. a

l/Vithin the troughs 1, 2 and 3 are a series of upper and lower rolls 9 and 10, which are journaled in the sides at of said troughs in the usual manner by their shafts 9, and the upper and lower rolls at the entering or front ends of said troughs are placed vertical line with each other, while the balance of said rolls are staggered with each other. The upper rolls 9 are provided with the fiat face 11 thereon. while the lower rolls 10 are provided with flanges 12 thereon for forming a groove 13 between such flanges, and these rolls are all revolved in the same direction, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2, by means of suitable gearing (not shown) connected to the shafts 9' of the same, which gearing is connected n any suitable manner through suitable devices to the usual source of power to operate apd revolve such rolls thereby. K EXtending between the sides 4 of the troughs 1, 2 and 3 are the cover-plates or shields 14, which are preferably formed in two sections, and are removably connected to said sides by means of the bolts 15 passing through the same and engaging with I the supporting brackets 16 for said shields on the sides 4:. The sections of the shields v.14: are adapted to form a guiding slot 14" between the same, and such shields are also adjustably connected to the brackets 16 ina through the bolts passing through elongated openings or slots 14' in said shields in order to vary the size of the said guiding slot between the shield sections, when desired. Within the troughs 1, 2 and 3 are the rollers 17 which are vertically mounted and journaled on each side of the guiding slot 14? within the shields 14 at their upper ends and within a cross-plate 17 in and secured to said troughs. These rollers 17 are provided with the body portions 17 and with a flange portion 17 at the upper ends of the same; in the case of "such rollers in the trough 1 such flange portions are adapted .to

fit within a recess-1'7 in the bottom of the shields 14. I

At the forward end of each of the troughs 1, 2 and 3 and within the same is the vertical wall 18, which is adapted to form an overflow compartment 19 in said troughs and between the front ends 19 of the same and said walls, and leading from the lower end of the compartment 19 is a drain-pipe 18.

At the upper ends of the wall 18 is an overflow regulating plate 20, which is adjustably mounted on said wall by means of the bolts 20 and is adapted 'to regulate the height of the treating fluid materials in the troughs 1, 2 and 3. Within and pivoted to the upper end of each of the walls 18 is a trap' 2O extending-between its trough and the overflow from said trough, and this trap is of trough-shape form having triangular shaped sides 21 on each side of the same, while a weight 22 is hung from the forward end of the trap to hold the rear end of the same in a raised normal position.

Within the troughs 1, 2 and 3, Water, such as is shown at 23, is placed by means of the pipes 24 entering through and connected to.

the shields 14 in the trough 1, and in the troughs 2 and 3 pipes 24' for supplying such water to these troughs enter the same through the sides 4 of said troughs. Above the waterin the troughs 1 and 2 a suitable oil such as is shown at 25 is. placed by means of pipes 26 entering the front ends 19 of said troughs and through the overflow compartment 19 and wall 18. The oil bath 25 in the trough 1 is adapted to extend only around the head 6. of the ordinary railroad rail a when passed through the same as hereinafter described, and the shields 14 the shield 14therein is in the same position asin the trough 2, and the absence of the oil bath 25 therein will allow the water 2 to extend entirely around the head 6 and web 0 of the rail, a in the passing of said rail through the same as hereinafter described.

The use and operation of the apparatus A I is as follows: After the finished rail a leaves the usual devices for sawing the same into proper lengths and while in a heated condi tion its end is passed in any suitable manner. through an opening 19 in the front end 19 of the trough 1 and over the overflow com partment 19 in said trough, where such front end strikes against the rear end of the trap 20, which will throw said trap into a horizontal osition and so' allow the head I) of said rail to fit within the same. After entering into the trough 1 through the opening 19" the web 0 of the rail afits within the slot 14 formed between the sections of the shields 14, while the flange d of said rail extends above saidshield, so that after the end of the rail has passed beyond the rear end of the trap 20 the head of said rail will enter into. the oil bath 25 in said trough and inthe further passing of said rail in said trough itwill be caught-by the first two forward rolls 9 and 10, with its head I) fitting in the groove 13 in the lower roll 10 and with the bottom of its flange (Z against theflat face 11 on the upper roll 9. After being so caught by the forward rolls 9 and 10, the rail a is drawn thereby, so that it can pass through and between the rollers 17 which will allow the body portions 17 of such rollers to bear against the sides of the rail head I) and the flange portions 17 of said rollers to bear against the sides of the rail web 0, so that will also prevent undue wearin of the rail on the guiding slot 14 and shields 14, After the rail a has passed the rollers 17 it will be caught by the other rolls 9 and 10 within the i trough 1 to continue itsdrawing through the said trough and allowits head I) to'bestill immersed in the oil bath 25 therein to harden said head, while at the same time it 'is guided in a straight line by the slot 14 in the shield 14 and'by said rolls so eng gagingv the head I) and flange d of said rail, which will keep the rail in its proper finished shape" and alinement and at the same time the web 0 and flange d of such rail is protected from being in contact with said oil bath to prevent hardening of the same by the shields 14. After the front end of the rail a has passed the rear rolls 9 and 10 in the trough 1, it strikes against the rear end of the trap 20 at the rear end of said trough to throw said tra to its horizontal position. which will allow the'head b of said rail to fit within the same, and then such rail end enters the open-" 19 in the rear end of such trough to allow the rail to pass out of said trough. As the rail a thus passes out of the trough 1 it enters and passes through the-trough 2 in like'nianner as in trough l, and the head 6 of the same is immersed in the water bath 23 in said trough 2, while the web 0 of the same is immersed in the oil bath 25 in said trough to further harden said head and said Web. After passing through the trough 2 the rail (4- enters and passes through the trough 3 in like manner asin the troughs 1 and 2, and the head 6 and web 0 on said rail is immersed in the water bath 23 in said trough 3 to further harden said head and web. After the rail a has left the traps 20 in the troughs 1, 2 and 3 such traps will resume their normal positions, as shown in Fig. 2, through their Weighted front ends, which will enable the inclined sides 21 on the rear ends of the same and such ends to come against the under faces on'the shields 14 and thereby prevent the oil or water in said troughs from escaping into the compartments l9. lVhile the rail a is thus passing through the troughs 1 and 2 and is having its head 6 and web 0 hardened by the water baths 23 and oil baths 25 therein, any overflowing of such oil from the troughs 1 and 2 caused by the movementof such rail head through the same will pass over the walls 18 at the front and rear ends of said trough and into the overflow compartments 19 at such ends, where it can be drawn" therefrom by the pipes 18 to a suitable receptacle or returned to the bath 25 through the'water 23 to cool the same, as desired. Any overflowing of the water 23 in the trough 3 caused by the passing of the rail a through the said trough during the hardening of the rail head 6 and web c-by suchwater therein, Will pass over the walls 18 at the front and rear ends of said trough and into the compartments 19 at such ends, where it can be drawn off by the pipes 18 to a suitable receptacle or returned to the bath 23 in said trough, as desired. During this passing of the rail a through the troughs 1, 2 and 3 the water 23 in said troughs is drained therefrom into the drain troughs 7 through the openings 6 in the sides 4 of said troughs, which openings are adjusted by the plates 9 to provide for he variations in the supply and discharge of the fluid and any scale from said head or web through the hardening of the same by said oil and water baths will pass down the inclined bottoms 5 in said troughs and into said troughs 7 through said openings to collect the same, while such water can pass from said drain troughs through the openings 6' at the rearends of .the same to a ceptacle or be returned to said troughs 1, 2 and 3, as desired. In case of any overflow in the troughs 7 am water therefrom can be passed into the overflow boxes 7 insaid. troughs and be withdrawn therefrom by the suitable repipes 7 to a suitable receptacle or be returned to the troughs 1, 2 and 3, as desired, while the scale can be removed from the troughs 7, as desired.

It will be evident that thetroughs 1, 2 and 3 can be of suflicient width to enable two or more rails or bars to be passed through the same at one time, and if desired a suitable heating furnace can be placed in front of said trough 1 and between said troughs 2 and 3 to maintain the rails or bars atthe proper heat for hardening the heads or I webs of the same in said troughs. In the latter case with the usual pyrometer attached to such furnace the rail or bar could pass slowly through the same, which would keep such rail or bar at a uniform heat, and where a steel rail or bar of an extra thickness is used the furnace in front of the first trough will heat the rail or bar to a uniform temperature, while the furnace between the sec- 1 0nd and third troughs will act to reduce .the hardness of the rail or bar so that the steel in such rail or bar can be heated to the proper color for hardening and. then be cooled in the last trough by the water medium. The head alone or both the head and web of the rail can be hardened or treated by the cooling fluid or medium, and in either case a single or two troughs can be used for such hardening or treating, while either high or low carbon rails, bars, long shear knives, or other bars that require a hard and soft surface can be treated in like manner. I

It is well known that in the use of oil in the treatment of -steel after it is finished that the article so treated would be ofa very tough and close grain,'which would add to the wear and strength ,;in the treatment of a railof low carbon it may not be necessary to use oil for :such treatment, in which case when water alone is used for the treatment, the rail would be of a better quality than the ordinary present high carbon one, although suchoil treatment would make'a better rail, as it could be hardened at a higher heat, as the'oil seems to have an affinity for the steel by closing the pores of the same and adding greatly" toits strength.

I Various other modifications in the design, construction and operation of the apparatus maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or sacrificing any i of its advantages.

, It will thus be seen that a very soft tough steel or low carbon steel railroad rail or J other like bar, such as about two-tenths of one lper cent. carbon can have its head or web hardened so such come as hard as the ordinary high carbon rails now in use and while being so tempered the rail is kept in itsfinished shape and in 1. proper alinement. en theraiI head is so being hardened, the web and flange ofthe of such article, so that parts of the same will be-' terial, and when the head and'web are being I parts hardened the flange is protected from such material, so that such web and flange, or such flange will still maintain their or its softness and toughness when cooled to properly support said head or such head and web, and thereby keep the rail from breaking under any quick jar or heavy strain, as is common with the high carbon steel rails or bars now in use. It-will also be seen that while the rail is being treated in the troughs and passing through the shield over the treating or cooling medium, the web of such rail will fit closely in the guiding slot of such shield and thereby prevent the. oil from burning from the heat of such rail.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1 1. An apparatus for hardening rails and bars or parts thereof, consisting of a trough having a fluidbaththerein, and vertical and horizontal rolls within said bath for drawing the rail or bar through said bath andfor holding the same in alinement.

2. An apparatus for hardening rails and bars or partsthereof, consisting of a trough havingfafi'uid bath therein, rolls within said bath for drawing and for holding the same in alinement, and an adjustable shield for protecting a portion of said rail or bar from such bath.

3. An apparatus for hardening rails or thereof, consisting of a trough having a fluid bath therein, and rolls in said'bath and engaging with the head of said rail for drawing said rail through said bath and for holding the same in alinement.

4. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting of a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engagmg with the head of said rail for drawing-said rail through said bath and for holding the same inalinement, and ashield for protectlng a portion of said roll from said bath.

5. An apparatus for hardening rails or.

parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, and rolls for engaging with the base of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail through said bath and hold the same in alinement.

,6. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls for engaging with the base of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail through saidbath and hold the same in alinei'nent, and a shield for protecting a portion of said rail from said bath.

7. An apparatus for hardening rails or" parts thereof, consisting in atrough having a fluid-bath therein, rolls, within said bath the rail through said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, and rolls in said bath for engaging with the sides of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail through saidbath and hold the same'in alinenient.

S. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting ,in a trough having a fluid bath therein,-rolls within said bath and engaging with the tread of the rail, rolls in said bath for engaging with the sides of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail through said bath and hold the same in alinenient, and a shield for protecting a portion of said rail from said bath.

9. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head -of.the rail, rolls engagi g with the base of the rail, said rolls being adaptedto "draw said rail and hold the same in alinement, and rolls in said bath engaging with the sides of said rail and adapted to hold the same in alinenient.

10. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls engaging with the base of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail and hold the same in alinement, rolls in said bath engaging with the sides of said rail and adapted to hold the same in alinement, and a shield for protecting a portion of said rail from said bath'l 11. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting of a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls within said bath for drawing the rail through said bath and for holding the same in alinernent, and means throughout said trough for controlling the height and temperature of such bath.

12. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting of a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls within said bath for drawing the rail through said bath and for holding the same in alinement, a shield for protecting a portion of said rail from such bath, and rneans throughout said trough for controlling the height and tem' perature of such bath.

13. An apparatus for hardening rails or arts thereof, consistingof a trough having a liuid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engagingwith the head of said rail for drawing said rail through said bath and for holding the same inalineinent, and means throughout said trough for controlling the height and temperature of such bat-la '14:. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting of a.trough havfluid b'ath therein, rolls in said bath with the head of said (ml for rail through said bath and the same 1n alinement ing a and engaging drawing said for holding shield for protecting a portion of said rail from trolling said bath, and means throughout said trough for controlling the height and temperature of such bath.

15. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls for engaging with the base of the rail. said rolls being adapted to draw said rail through said bath and hold the same in alineinent, and means throughout said trough for conthe height and temperature of such bath.

16. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls for engaging with the base of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail through said bath and hold the same in alinement, a shield for protecting a portion of said rail from said bath, and means throughout said trough for controlling the'height and tour perature of such bath.

17. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls within said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls in said bath for engaging with. the sides of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail through said bath andhold the same in alinement, and means throughout said trough for controlling the height and temperature of such bath.

18. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls within said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls in said bath for engaging with the sides of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail through said bath and hold the same in alinement, a shield for protecting a portion of said rail from said bath, and means throughout said trough for controlling the height and temperature of such bath.

19. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting in a trough hav ing a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls engaging with the base of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail and hold the same in alinement, rolls in said bath engaging with the sides of sai rail and adapted to hold the same in alinement, and means throughout said trough for controlling the height and temperat -ire'of such bath.

20. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls engaging with the base of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail and hold the same in alinement, rolls in said bath engaging with the sides of said rail and adapt- T ed to hold the same in alinement, a shield for holding the same parts thereo for protecting a portion of said rail from said bath, and means throughout said trough for controlling the height and temperature of such bath. 7

21. An. apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consistingof a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls'within said bath for drawing the rail through said bath and for holding the same in alinement, and an inclined bottom in said trough for directing the scale from said trough.

22. An apparatus for hardeningrails or parts thereof, consisting of a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls within said bath for drawing-the rail through said bath and in alinement, a shield for protecting a' portion of said rail from such bath, and an inclined bottom in said trough for directing the scale from said trough. l

23. An apparatus for hardening rails or parts thereof, consisting of a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of said'rail for drawing said rail through said bath and for holding the same in alinement, and an inclined bottom in said trough for directing the scale from said trough.

24:. An apparatus for hardening rails or afluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of said rail for drawing said railthrough'said bath and for holding the same in alinement, a shield for protecting a portion of said rail from said bath, and an inclined bottom in said trough for directing the scale from said trough.

25. An ap aratus for hardening rails or consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls for engaging with the base of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said, rail through said bath and hold the same in alinement, and an inclined bottom in said trough for directing the scale from said trough.

26. An apparatus for hardening rails or partsthereof, consisting in atrough having a fluid bath therein, engaging with the head of the rail, rolls for engaging with the base of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail through said bath and hold the same in alinement, a shield for protecting a portion of said rail from said bath, and an inclined bottom in said trough for directing the scale from said rolls in said bath and i same in alinement, a shield for protecting a portion of said rail from said bath, and an inclined bottom in said trough for directing the scale from said trough.

29. An apparatus for hardening railsor parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a-fluid bath therein, rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls en-' gaging with the base of -the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail and hold the same in alinement, rolls in said bath engaging with the sides of said rail and adapted to hold the same in alinement, and an inclined bottom in said trough for directing the scale from said trough.

30.- An apparatus for hardening rails -or parts thereof, consisting in a trough having a fluid bath therein rolls in said bath and engaging with the head of the rail, rolls engaging with the base of the rail, said rolls being adapted to draw said rail and hold the same in alinement, rolls in said bath engaging-with the sides of said rail and adapted to hold the same in'alinement, a-

shield for vprotecting a portion of said rail. from said bath, and an inclined bottom in said trough for directingthe scale from said trough.

31. An apparatus for hardening rails and bars or parts thereof, consisting of an in- .said bath closed trough having a fluid bath therein and providedwith an opening at each end of the same, means for fixing the level'of said bath, and means within said trough for drawing the rail or bar through said openings and said bath and for holding the same in aiinement. V

32. An apparatus for hardening rails'and bars or parts thereof, consisting ofan inclosed trough having a fluid bath therein and an outlet fixing the level of such bath and also provided with an opening for the rail at each end of the same at such a height that the rail will be immersed in the bath to the depth required, means for preventing therescape of the fluid at said openings during the passing of the rail through the same, and means within said'trough for drawing the rail or bar through said openings and and for holding the same in aline-v ment.

33. An'apparatus for hardening rails and bars or parts thereof, consisting offan inclosed trough having a fluid bath therein and an outlet fixing the levelof such bath and also provided with an opening for the rail at each end of the same at such a height that the rail will be immersed in the bath to the depth required, traps for preventing the escape of the fluidat said openings during the passing of the rail through the same, and means within said trough for drawing the rail or bar through said openings and said bath and for holding the same in alinement.

In testimony whereof, I, the said JAMES C. RUSSELL, have hereunto set my hand.

- JAMES C. RUSSELL. Witnesses:

JAMES L. WEHN,

T. B, HUMPHRIES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained a five cents each, by addressing the (Joniniissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

